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| Lt. Serrano, Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue, photo courtesy of G. Serrano |
By Jane Feehan
Gio Serrano’s stop in Fort Lauderdale on his way to Texas
in 1996 would change his life.
Traveling from Puerto Rico to begin school at the Art
Institute in Dallas, he was blown away on that fateful stop at the South Florida
beach.
“Wow! You can get paid to work on the beach in Fort Lauderdale,” Gio exclaimed then as an 18-year-old.
The beach had drawn him into its waters as a kid growing up in Ponce, Puerto Rico. It’s where he learned to swim when his mother coaxed him into the water to encourage him to learn.
“There was a lot of school skipping to go to the beach,” he confessed. There were no lifeguards there; that’s part of what intrigued him about Florida and lifeguarding. He decided to stay.
Serrano transferred his enrollment to the Art Institute in Fort Lauderdale to study computer animation. Determined to succeed, he worked while in school part time as a lifeguard for the YMCA in Fort Lauderdale and the YMCA in Hollywood, completed his studies and progressed into a full-time career with Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue (FLOR), which included his developing their first website.
Ocean Rescue, recognized nationally for excellence, is comprised of one chief, eight lieutenants, 36 full-time and 90 part-time lifeguards.
Today, as a first responder Lieutenant Gio Serrano blends his skills as a paramedic, an emergency medical technician (EMT) and a CPR expert to serve beachgoers in trouble. He was recognized as Lifeguard of the Year in 2007. Today he can be seen in a red rescue vehicle patrolling areas that include five lifeguard towers between Fort Lauderdale’s south and central beach to ensure staff have what they need to perform rescue or life-saving medical duties. Serrano also trains lifeguards on the beach three days a week as well as the marine unit of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department.
A major part of a lifeguard’s work is responding to medical emergencies, which can spill into sidewalks and adjacent roads—or other into other municipalities such as Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, via mutual aid agreements.
But water rescues also rank high. “More than 50 percent of people can’t swim,” said Serrano. “Or they overestimate their abilities. Treading water in a pool is much different than dealing with changing ocean currents and conditions.”
He also said troubles may be seen before an ocean swimmer calls for help. The work of lifeguards includes interpreting behaviors in the water that indicate lack of confidence or recklessness. Some may hear a warning shouted over a solar powered PA system from a lifeguard tower. Other swimmers often don’t pay attention to where the towers are and express surprise about where a lifeguard comes from when one arrives to assist. “Towers sit 10 to 15 ft above eyelevel, yet they don’t notice them,” said Serrano who also pointed out there are far more rescues performed than life-saving activities.
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| Lt. Serrano teaching kids CPR, photo courtesy of G. Serrano |
Many who don’t go to the beach may see Lt. Serrano beyond the city’s white sands; community outreach lies close to his heart. He trains kids in CPR and in swimming safety at Broward County schools.
There’s more that Lt. Serrano does for the community.
“One of my favorite things to do is visit pediatric hospitals with the 501st Division (think Star Wars and Jedi General Anakin Skywalker). Dressed in uniforms replicating those in the movie, Serrano and friends raise spirits and help realize hopes through Make a Wish Foundation.
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| Lt. Serrano (white shirt) recognized for service, photo courtesy G. Serrano |
We never know or appreciate what a lifeguard may be asked to do. During this interview, Lt. Serrano was asked by a homeless visitor to assist with a cell phone call; another asked about a contact to help find her shelter. They came to the right person; he assisted with both.
One thing Lt. Serrano does not do is go to Fort Lauderdale’s beach on his day off. However, he visits Florida’s Keys and occasionally the Ocala National Forest for a complete change of scenery.
With 25 years in Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue, he brings not only expertise but also singular dedication to our community and compassion to those in trouble. It’s all in his day’s work. It’s the real beach life.
Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved. Jane Feehan.
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